Housecleaning Guide The Way Our Grandmothers Did It

Housecleaning Guide

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Grandmothers are masters of almost anything. If they are not dishing out advice on significant life matters, they are probably teaching you how to be a better homemaker. Their ideal consumer of their wealth of knowledge is none other than anyone who could pass for a grandchild. Out of their immense wisdom in numerous subjects, one can also learn a few tips and tricks of keeping their houses clean and fresh.

What housecleaning methods did grandmas use that are still effective today?

Generally, vintage housecleaning did not involve complicated technical machines or chemicals. Most of the work was done manually. There were no vacuum cleaners, dishwashers and laundry machines. The cleaning products were also limited. This left housekeepers with no other option than devising their own cleaning products from readily available materials. You can bet ingredients like lemons, baking soda and white vinegar were handy in these recipes. The following are effective housecleaning ideas of today inspired by the 1950s and beyond.

Adopt a Cleaning Schedule and Follow It

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In a 2010 interview finding published in The Dallas Morning News by Jamie Knodel on Old-fashioned housekeeping tips from Dallas-Fort Worth grandmothers, an interviewee who is a grandma recommended having a cleaning routine. There are various benefits of following a set schedule. For once, you get used to your schedule with time and you will never struggle with cleaning at all. Secondly, following the routine keenly ensure you do not pile your work. This case, you will always have manageable housekeeping chores to tackle.

Another interviewee was of the opinion that people should not dilly-dally when it comes to housecleaning. In any case, one of the main hindrances to attaining any goal is dilly-dallying. Even with cleaning, this habit is likely to derail you. Even if you create a manageable schedule, you will only see results when you decide to wake up and get your hands to work.

Get a Helping Hand

Even a professional housekeeper will appreciate some help. Keeping a house in shape always is not an easy task; our grandmothers knew this too well. The modern woman has substantial demands and this makes her a better candidate for help with house chores. You can ask your children and spouse to give a hand. For instance, think of a way you could have everyone in the household involved in a cleaning frenzy, once every day, perhaps before going to bed. You may identify different rooms where you want to go around collecting clutter, and placing every item in its respective place. This will leave the rooms neat before going to bed.

Benefits of cleaning as a family abound. For instance, this is a perfect time to strengthen your relationship. During a tidying up session, one can catch up with their spouse to find out how their day or week has been.

As for the children, you not only bond with them, but this can be treated as a training session as well. It is through such practices they can learn how to do general house chores and the importance of maintaining a hygienic living space. For this reason, do not wait for long before involving them in cleaning. They can learn even from the smallest activities such as collecting and arranging their toys. This simple exercise can begin as early as they learn how to talk or can understand instructions.

Use Lemons to Banish Pungent Smell or Odor

In the old age days, there were no air fresheners. That does not mean houses were always smelly. Conversely, they could use lemon juice as a handy ingredient for preparing mists for warding off awful smells. They could spray around their home to give it a zesty, clean aroma. Today, you may play with the scent to create your personal preference by adding plant extracts such as lavender, fruits, and spices.

There are other benefits of spraying lemon mixture around your house. It does not just deodorize, but also has strong anti-bacterial characteristics that make it a spectacular cleaning agent. In this case, misting different surfaces with lemon will also help kill germs thus making your home more hygienic.